New build now available for Skip Ahead users

Microsoft has released a new build for Windows insiders enrolled in the Fast ring, and this time it previews the upcoming Redstone 6 update coming in the spring of 2019.

Windows 10 build 18237 doesn’t bring too many changes to insiders, and this makes perfect sense given that work on this update is still in the early days.

All the focus is now on getting the October 2018 Update ready for launch, which is expected to happen next month, and all then accelerate the development of the spring 2019 feature update.

The only change in this build is the acrylic effect that makes it to the Windows sign-in screen, contributing to a more modern interface that users see before even logging in. Acrylic is part of Microsoft’s Fluent Design System and is already available in other parts of the OS too, including in core apps.

“The translucent texture of this transient surface helps you focus on the sign-in task by moving the actionable controls up in the visual hierarchy while maintaining their accessibility,” Microsoft explains in the release notes (which you can read in full in the box below).

Known issues

In addition to several other improvements and refinements, there are also two known issues, and one of them concerns the notifications displayed in the Action Center. Microsoft explains:

“You may notice the background of notifications and the Action Center lose color and become transparent (with an acrylic effect). We’re aware that for notifications this can make them difficult to read and appreciate your patience as we work on a fix,” Microsoft explains.

Windows 10 Redstone 6 is projected to launch in the spring of next year, as per Microsoft’s typical release schedule. This means it should be finalized in March and then rolled out to users in April. Build release cadence, however, will accelerate once the October 2018 Update ships next month.